H-0237.1

HOUSE BILL 1826


State of Washington	64th Legislature	2015 Regular Session

By Representatives Johnson and Blake

Read first time 01/29/15. Referred to Committee on Environment.

AN ACT Relating to creating flexibility in the state's recreational fee-for-access programs to better accommodate families that recreate with multiple vehicles; amending RCW 79A.80.080 and 79A.80.020; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

(1)(a) A discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day-use permit must be visibly displayed in the front windshield, or otherwise in a prominent location for motor vehicles without a windshield, of any motor vehicle:

(b) If both vehicles listed on a discover pass or a vehicle access pass are simultaneously accessing the same recreational site or recreational land, then a discover pass or a vehicle access pass only needs to be displayed on one of the two vehicles. However, the owner or user of the vehicle not displaying the pass or permit must be able to demonstrate on demand that a valid pass or permit is present on the recreational site or recreational land.

(a) On private lands, state-owned aquatic lands other than water access areas, or at agency offices, hatcheries, or other facilities where public business is conducted;

(b) For persons who use, possess, or enter lands owned or managed by the agencies for nonrecreational purposes consistent with a written authorization from the agency, including but not limited to leases, contracts, and easements;

(d) When operating on a road managed by the department of natural resources or the department of fish and wildlife, including a forest or land management road, that is not blocked by a gate.

(3)(a) An agency may waive the requirements of this section for any person who has secured the ability to access specific recreational land through the provision of monetary consideration to the agency or for any person attending an event or function that required the provision of monetary compensation to the agency.

(b) Special events and group activities are core recreational activities and major public service opportunities within state parks. When waiving the requirements of this section for special events, the state parks and recreation commission must consider the direct and indirect costs and benefits to the state, local market rental rates, the public service functions of the event sponsor, and other public interest factors when setting appropriate fees for each event or activity.

(4) Failure to comply with subsection (1) of this section is a natural resource infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. An agency is authorized to issue a notice of infraction to any person who fails to comply with subsection (1)(a)(i) of this section or to any motor vehicle that fails to comply with subsection (1)(((b)))(a)(ii) of this section.

(b) This penalty must be reduced to fifty-nine dollars if an individual provides proof of purchase of a discover pass to the court within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation.

(c) The penalty under this subsection must be waived if an individual can demonstrate that the cited vehicle's license plate was identified on a valid discover pass or vehicle access pass that was displayed on another vehicle simultaneously accessing the same recreational site or recreational land.

(2) Except as provided in RCW 79A.80.110, the cost of a discover pass is thirty dollars. Every four years the office of financial management must review the cost of the discover pass and, if necessary, recommend to the legislature an adjustment to the cost of the discover pass to account for inflation.

(3) A discover pass is valid for one year beginning from the date that the discover pass is marked for activation. The activation date may differ from the purchase date pursuant to any policies developed by the agencies.

(5) The discover pass must contain space for two motor vehicle license plate numbers. A discover pass is valid only for those vehicle license plate numbers written on the pass. However, the agencies ((may))must offer for sale a family discover pass that is fully transferable among vehicles with common family registrations and does not require the placement of a license plate number on the pass to be valid. The agencies must collectively set a price for the sale of a family discover pass ((that is no more than fifty dollars))at a price point intended to at least compensate the agencies for the corresponding reduction in individual discover pass sales. ((A discover pass is valid only for use with one motor vehicle at any one time.))

(6) One complimentary discover pass must be provided to a volunteer who performed twenty-four hours of service on agency-sanctioned volunteer projects in a year. The agency must provide vouchers to volunteers identifying the number of volunteer hours they have provided for each project. The vouchers may be brought to an agency to be redeemed for a discover pass.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The family discover pass required to be offered under RCW 79A.80.020 must be available for purchase by January 1, 2016. A report must be delivered to the legislature by the agencies required to implement the family discover pass, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, by January 1, 2016, that provides details as to how the family discover pass will be implemented and how the final price point was determined.